For those who don't know, Melissa is the head of the fabrication lab at the A-School. She runs the space while teaching classes and workshops here and there.

This Spring, we learned all the basics of puppeteering and creature making from Melissa, Annie, and experts in the field, which culminated in the creation of two gigantic creatures. I don't know if this class will happen again, but it's definitely one of my favorites in my time at UVA. I will say that it required TONS of outside of class effort: you are expected to dedicate most of several sundays to the project and will likely need to come in to work in the afternoons. That being said, it's super rewarding and I learned a ton. Melissa and Annie both know a lot but are willing to adapt and grow with their students. I hope we will see the creatures return sometime soon.